A/N Sorry I haven't updated for a while, I've been busy. (Go read LiAaR for a full explanation: I'm not writing it again!) Hope you enjoy this chapter anyway! :-D
Thanks to CasualtyFanForever81, cooper1eddie2, Gillian Kearney Fan and Minxheart for reviewing! They were great reviews and they made me happy! :-D
CasualtyFanForever81 (and anyone else that wants to): I have a poll on my profile about the Calpol-flavoured paracetamol. If lots of people vote yes I'll use it as part of my evidence for my campaign! XD
Also, just realised that 'The Lion King' was released in 1994, and Samantha was born in 1985... Oh well, let's just pretend it came out in 1984 instead (otherwise I'll have to change this and LiAaR which I can't be bothered/ don't want to do!)! XD
A few minutes later I stopped crying and pulled out of the hug.
"Are you OK now, Samantha?" Mummy asked me.
I nodded. "What happened, when I couldn't breathe properly?"
Mummy stroked my cheek gently. "You had something called a panic attack," she explained. "When you get too upset or scared, sometimes your body can't cope anymore, and it does that."
"OK," I said. "What do I do when I have one?"
"Well, if you can, come and find me," said Mummy. "If you can't, try to just take deep breaths to slow your breathing down, which will stop it."
I nodded. "OK."
"Good girl," said Mummy, kissing my forehead. "Do you want to come downstairs or stay up here?"
"Is Daddy downstairs?" I asked nervously.
"Yes, he is," she said.
"Can I stay up here then?" I asked, my eyes full of fear.
"Of course you can," Mummy said. "Do you want me to stay with you?"
I nodded. "Yes please, Mummy."
Mummy smiled at me. "OK. What do you want to do?"
"Can you sing to me?" I asked. Whenever I was upset, or actually every night before I went to sleep, Mummy would sing my favourite song to me: 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight?' from 'The Lion King'.
"OK," said Mummy. I got off the bed and crawled onto her lap, wrapping my arms around her, Simba on my lap. Mummy hugged me back and began to hum the introduction as she stroked my hair, and then she went into the first verse.
There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you
I smiled, Mummy's voice making me feel calm, taking all of my worries away. I loved this song as well, it was so lovely and calming, and I could always just forget everything and just listen to the song, especially with Mummy's beautiful voice.
And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
I smiled as Mummy finished the first chorus, and began to hum the introduction again, her soft fingers still stroking my long blonde hair, before she went into the second verse.
There's a time for everyone if they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn
There's a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours
As Mummy finished the second verse I drew in a breath and looked up at her, before we both sung the second chorus together, our eyes locked.
And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
Just before the final two lines I noticed that Mummy closed her mouth, like she was going to stop singing. I drew in another breath and sang the last two lines myself.
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
As I got to the end of the last line I held on the note on the word 'best', before I broke off.
"Your voice is lovely, Samantha," said Mummy, smiling at me.
"Is it?" I asked. I went to nursery, and when we did singing most people didn't do it very well, but their parents always said their voices sounded nice.
"I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't true," said Mummy, kissing the top of my head. "If I told you it was nice and it wasn't, then when you sang to other people they might say it was horrible, and you'd get upset, so I wouldn't do that, but it is. It's really lovely."
I smiled. "Yours is lovely as well."
Mummy smiled. "Thank you, Samantha," she said, hugging me close.
A few minutes later I pulled out of the hug. "I'm hungry," I said.
"What do you want?" Mummy asked me.
I thought for a moment. "Could I have a ham sandwich please?" I asked. "And some orange juice?"
"Of course you can, Samantha," said Mummy, standing up. "I'll be back in a minute, OK?"
"OK," I said, and then sat on the bed to wait.
Michelle (Samantha's mum) POV
I closed the door behind me and then went downstairs into the kitchen to get Samantha's sandwich and orange juice.
"What are you doing?" asked Howard (Samantha's dad), coming into the kitchen.
"I'm making Samantha some lunch," I replied, going to the fridge and getting out the butter and ham and then going to the bread bin and getting out some bread, not looking at him.
"Why doesn't she come down?" Howard asked.
I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him. "She's terrified of you," I explained. "You smashed her into the cooker and made her stay in hospital for a week, she's not going to want to just come down and eat lunch with you around is she?"
"I did it for a reason!" Howard shouted.
"Which was?!" I asked in disbelief.
"She spilt her juice on the carpet," said Howard.
"By accident!" I exclaimed. "She's three years old for fuck's sake!"
At this, Howard slapped me across the face.
"You do NOT swear at me!" he yelled. "Understood?"
I nodded. "Yes Howard."
"Good," he replied. "Now go and give Samantha her lunch, I'm going out."
With that he left the house and I stood there, shaking, before my knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor.
Samantha (Normal) POV
I heard the front door slam downstairs, and then everything fell silent. Daddy must have gone out. I cautiously opened my bedroom door, before I padded downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Mummy, have you got my..." I trailed off as I saw Mummy on the floor.
Mummy looked up as she heard me. "Samantha, I'm just getting your lunch, it won't take a minute," she said. "Go and sit at the table."
I saw the tears that were rolling down Mummy's cheeks, and so instead of going to sit at the table I ran over and gave her a hug, wrapping my arms around her.
"Oh Samantha," Mummy said to me, hugging me close. "Why do you keep looking after me? It should be the other way round!"
"Because you're sad, Mummy," I said, wiping one of her tears away.
"I should be able to look after myself though!" said Mummy.
"I want to help though," I said. "I want to make you happy."
"Thank you, Samantha," said Mummy, pulling me into a hug.
We then just sat on the floor for a few minutes, hugging each other close, dreading Daddy coming back...
A/N Yes, I know it's a cliffhanger, but I didn't know what else to write and I wanted to get this up tonight. Please read and review! :-D